Fiesta at our Apartment

We had a party for Mark's morning classes on March 26 in our apartment. Here are a few pictures from the party.




We ate 7 layer bean dip and Chile. They loved the bean dip, but not all of them liked the chile because it was a little too spicy.

Another Festivo Day in Bogota

Today, March 21st was another Festivo Day so the Institute was closed. Ivan Felipe asked us to go with him far away to Villa de Leve, but it was too far so we talked him into just going to the the center part of the city and then going to Monserraute which is a mountain above the city with a large Catholic cathederal. The weather was horrible and really cloudy so we did not go to the top, but walked around the city and we also went to the planetarium, but the main theater did not have any shows. This is Mark and Ivan Felipe on the transmillenial bus on the way down. We at least had a seat. Usually we have to stand when we ride the bus.

As we were walking towards Monserraute there was this llama grazing. Mark made the comment to us "Como se llama?" It was kind of lame!!!

I had Mark take this picture with Ivan Felipe because there was a palm tree and a pine tree right behind us.

We were standing in front of the National History Museum which by the way was closed and Mark was not really trying to choke me!

No, Mark was actually starting to kiss me!

This is an area filled with trees right in the central part of Bogota. There are many stores that line both sides of the park but they were all closed because of the holiday. Even though we did not see all that we wanted to see, we had a great lunch together and we really enjoyed the day with Ivan Felipe!

Missionaries in the Bogota Stake

Elder Gardner and Elder Gamarra at the church this past Sunday just after choir practice. Elder Gardner is from California and he and Mark get along so well. They are the zoneleaders for our zone here in Bogota stake.

On Friday March 18th we fed Elder Gardner and Elder Gamarra at our apartment. Elder Gamarra is from Peru and loved my Chile so we fed them Chile dogs.

Sunday evening, March 20th the missionaries were at the choir practice for the upcoming stake conference in April.

Tuesday night Institute

Tuesday night Mark teaches Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and I teach History of the Church. We love being in the teaching mode and we love these great young people.

Ivan Felipe, Aura and Hans are working on the Mormon Battalion map and presentation. Aura is a returned missionary who went to California. Ivan Felipe will be going on his mission next fall and Hans just received his mission call to Toronto Canada. Hans will make a fabulous missionary.

Maria, Ana Lorena and Mario are preparing the map for Iowa. Ana Lorena and Mario are "Novios" which means they are kind of engaged.

The Torres sisters, Evelyn and Alejandra were preparing the presentaion for their group. Alejandra just got married this past December and Evelyn is just finishing nursing school.

My History of the Church Class drew maps of the treks across Iowa, Missouri and the Mormon Battalion routes. This one is of Natalie Camila and David drawing the area around Winter Quarters.

Mark is discussing how to make up his class that a student missed.